India Warehousing and Cold Chain Market Size and Forecast (2018-2030) - Focus on Warehouse Market By Structure, Services, Ownership, Size, Industry and Major Cities
Executive Summary
The Indian Warehousing and Cold Chain Market have experienced significant growth and transformation over the past decade. The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has led to the consolidation of warehouses and the development of larger, more centralized facilities. Warehouses in India are diverse and can be classified into various structures such as traditional warehouses, automated warehouses, and temperature-controlled warehouses.
Warehousing services include storage, transportation, inventory management, order fulfillment, and value-added services. Cold chain services involve the storage and transportation of temperature-sensitive goods. Warehouses in India can be owned by logistics companies, manufacturers, retailers, or operated by third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Warehouse sizes vary, with some catering to small-scale storage needs, while others are large distribution centers designed to handle massive volumes of goods. The warehousing market serves a range of industries, including e-commerce, retail, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, automotive, and more. Major cities and industrial hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata play a crucial role in the warehousing sector. These areas witness higher demand for logistics and distribution services.
In India, the warehousing sector comprises both public and private warehouses, each serving distinct purposes and catering to various industries and logistical needs: Public Warehouses are operated by government agencies or entities like the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs).
Demand and Supply of Warehouses in India
Demand for warehousing space in Asia has been increasing steadily over the past few years due to several factors such as e-commerce boom, supply chain diversification, urbanization and population growth, infrastructure development, technological advancements. Countries like China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asian nations like Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia are witnessing significant growth in warehouse demand due to these factors.
The Warehousing, Industrial, and Logistics (WIL) sectors are anticipated to play a pivotal role in fulfilling India's ambition of achieving a USD 5 trillion economy by FY25.
According to FICCI, the warehousing sector in India has experienced considerable investment influx in recent years. India is anticipated to generate enough supply to fulfill the demand for 223 million square feet of Grade-A warehousing space within the upcoming three years. India had financial investments of USD 1,369 Million in 2019, with a significant drop in the succeeding year with USD 847 Million. Various Western nations started investing in the country with USD 1,293 million with a significant rise in the subsequent year with investments of USD 1,856 million.
Demand of Grade A & Grade B Warehouses in India
Grade A warehouses command higher rents compared to Grade B and C warehouses primarily due to their elevated construction costs. However, when considering factors such as rental rates in India (INR per square foot per month), storage capacity, cargo handling capacity, and pallet capacity in relation to the volume, Grade A warehouses demonstrate greater cost-efficiency than their counterparts in Grades B and C.
In 2021, India experienced Y-o-Y surge in the total stock of Grade A and B warehousing space across metropolitan and now trend is moving to non-metro cities owing to low rental rates.
Hold of Generalized Services
According to Makreo Research, generalized services contribute controlling share in the market, while specialized account for least contributor. However, Cold storage is having a significant growth and development in past years and further expected to expand with growing demand and so as investments in retail.
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Funding Timeline:
In recent years, the industry has witnessed significant M&A activities and funding events. The timeline includes a surge in M&A during 2018-2019, with companies seeking expansion and consolidation. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 impacted supply chains, leading to a focus on resilience. 2021-2022 saw continued investments in technology and infrastructure, with strategic acquisitions and partnerships. The projected timeline for 2023-2024 anticipates further growth in funding and potential M&A activities driven by market evolution and expansion plans.
Scope of the Study:
The comprehensive scope of work involves analyzing and forecasting the India Warehousing and Cold Chain Market from 2018 to 2030, with a specific focus on the Warehouse Market. The analysis encompasses various dimensions, including market structure (traditional, automated, temperature-controlled), services offered (storage, transportation, inventory management), ownership models (logistics companies, manufacturers, 3PL providers), warehouse size, industry verticals served (e-commerce, retail, pharmaceuticals), geographical presence (major cities and industrial hubs), technology integration (WMS, automation), supply chain efficiency, government initiatives, market trends, and the competitive landscape. This approach provides a detailed understanding of the market's dynamics and future prospects across different facets of the warehousing and cold chain industry in India.
The report presents a comprehensive forecast for the Indian warehousing and cold chain market, extrapolating trends to offer insights into future growth prospects. This forward-looking analysis serves as a valuable resource for investors, policymakers, and industry participants, enabling them to make well-informed decisions. Anticipated growth in the warehousing and cold chain market is expected to persist throughout the forecast period, propelled by the expansion of e-commerce, advancements in technology, and rising demand for temperature-sensitive storage. The adoption of technologies such as automation and data analytics in warehouse management is poised to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs. Strategic investments in infrastructure, particularly in the development of modern warehouses, will play a pivotal role in meeting the escalating demand and establishing a resilient supply chain network.
Period of Study
2018 – 2023: Past and Present Scenario
2023: Base Year
2024 – 2030: Future Outlook of the Industry
Market Segmentation:
Segmentation by Structure
- Organized Sector
- Unorganized Sector
Segmentation by Warehousing and Cold Chain Services
Refrigerated/Cold Storage
Segmentation by Industry
Segmentation by Ownership
- Public Warehouses
- Private Warehouses
Segmentation by Size
Segmentation by Cities
Companies Covered:
A.P. Moller – Maersk
FM Logistic India
SK Logistics
Warehousing Express Logistics Pvt. Ltd.
Coldman Logistics Pvt. Ltd.
Snowman Logistics Ltd.
Coldrush Logistics Pvt. Ltd.
Gati Ltd.
Gubba Green Cold Pvt. Ltd.
TCI Express Ltd.
Mahindra Logistics Ltd.
Central Warehousing Corporation
Key Questions Answered
1. What is the overall size and growth trajectory of the India Warehousing and Cold Chain Market from 2018 to 2030?
2. How is the market revenue distributed among Generalized, Specialized and Cold Chain warehouse structures?
3. What are the revenue trends based on industry-specific demands and which sectors are driving the demand for warehousing services?
4. How does infrastructure development, including technological advancements and facility improvements, influence the warehousing and cold chain market?
5. What is the breakdown of market revenue based on warehouse size categories and what are the preferences across different storage capacities?
6. How is the market revenue distributed among Generalized, Specialized, and Cold Chain services?
7. What is the revenue distribution based on ownership structures, including privately-owned and publicly-owned operated warehouses?
8. How does market revenue vary across major cities in India, and what are the regional growth patterns?
9. Who are the key players in the India Warehousing and Cold Chain Market, and what are their profiles, market share, and strategies?
10. What are the primary challenges faced by the warehousing and cold chain industry in India?
11. What opportunities exist for stakeholders in the evolving market landscape?
12. What are the potential threats to the warehousing and cold chain market, and how can they be mitigated?